China eyes carbon capture technology expansion
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(Published by Thomson Reuters Point Carbon)
LONDON, March 20 - China has signed an agreement to share information on carbon capture and storage (CCS) information with the Global CCS Institute, as it plans to roll out the technology to help cut its emissions, a government official said in a press release Tuesday.
As a part of the deal China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, and the Institute will cooperate on research and demonstration projects as the country seeks to use the technology to cut its ballooning emissions.
"CCS can be an important tool for controlling and reducing carbon emissions. China attaches great importance to the demonstration and deployment of CCS technologies," said Su Wei, Director General of the Department of Climate Change, National Development and Reform Commission, said.
The Institute's 2011 Global Status of CCS report showed that China has six large-scale integrated projects in development and noted that there is growing recognition by the Chinese central government that CCS will need to play a key role in the country's climate change abatement strategies.
China has pledged to cut carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45 percent by 2020, compared to 2005 levels, but as one of the world's largest coal consumers it faces a tough challenge in growing its economy while shrinking its emissions.
"The potential for deploying CCS in China is considerable given China's large fossil energy use, significant coal reserves and coal-based industries" Brad Page, CEO of the Global CCS Institute, said in the release Tuesday.
COOPERATION
As a part of the deal China and the Institute will also work to promote greater cooperation between CCS projects internationally the release said, something experts said is desperately needed if the technology is to take off.
Last week a cross-party committee of UK MPs and industry representatives spoke of the UK's need to collaborate with China in developing the technology.
John Ashton, the UK Foreign Secretary's Special Representative for Climate Change, said if China successfully proves that economic growth can be achieved via a low carbon path it could help to spur other major economies to take on emission limits under the new climate agreement.
The International Energy Agency said in its 2011 World Energy Outlook report, CCS could cut global emissions 18 percent by 2035.
(Reporting by Susanna Twidale)
CARBON/CHINA-CCS | ELE | RBN
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